[Two cases of primary, diffusely infiltrating carcinoma (linitis plastica) of the colon].

Two rare cases of a primary, diffusely infiltrating carcinoma (linitis plastica) of the colon are reported. Case 1: In a 54-year-old male complaining of constipation and bloody stool, stenosis in the lower rectum was detected. He was diagnosed as having rectal cancer and rectal amputation with R3 lymphadenectomy was performed. The histological diagnosis was a signet ring cell carcinoma (a2, n2(+), Ho, Po stage IV). The patient died of multiple metastasis on the 318th postoperative day. Case 2: In a 29-year-old male complaining of a lower left abdominal pain, a circular stenosis of 7.5 cm in length in the descending colon, with Schnitzler's metastasis, was found. In spite of the advanced stage, a palliative colectomy was performed. A circular thickness of the wall was noted macroscopically, and the histological diagnosis was signet ring cell carcinoma, (s, n4(+), Ho, Po, stage V). The patient died of multiple metastasis on the 25th postoperative day.